Machinery



June 25, 1935.

P. N. DUBUCv MACHINERY FildApril 2o, 1931 s 'sheets-sheet 1 l l l l INVENTOR Paul HDubuc Wwf/T NEY P. N. DUBUC MACHINERY 3 sheets-sheet 2 Filed April 20, 1951 ATTORNEY June 25, `1935.

' June 25, 1935.

P. N.DIUBUC MACHINERY Filed April' 2o, 1931 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 rgQXlIL INVENTOR Paul Hubuc Patented June 25, 1935 y i Y UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE MACHINERY Paul N. Dubuc, Danielson, Conn.

Application April 20, 1931, Serial No. 531,504

6 Claims. (Cl. 271-?..1)

This invention relates to improvements in Another object of the invention is to provide mechanism for conveying, facilitating inspection, simple, efcicnt and economical means for inmeasuring and cutting sheet materials together creasing the production of articles formed from with improved means and processes for carrysheet materials, reducing the floor space usually ing out these. operations either singly or in any necessary in the production of such articles and 5 combination one with the other, for decreasing the cost and many laborious and The principal object of the invention is to proimpractical productive operations 0f the pastvide improved means and processes for convey- Objects and advantages of the invention will ing, facilitating inspection, measuring and cutbecome apparent from the following description 10 ting sheet materials and for carrying out the varitaken in connection with the accompanying draw- 10 ous operations either singly or in any combinaings and it will be understood that many changes tion one with the other. may be made in the details of construction, ar-

Another object of the invention is to provide an rangement of parts and steps of the processes improved machine of the above character which without departing from the spirit of the invenmay be quickly and easily adapted to several tion as expressed in the accompanying claims. 15 specic uses. c I, therefore, do not wish to be limited to exact de- Another object of the invention is to provide tails of construction, arrangement 0fv Darts and improved means for automatically grasping and processes shown and described as the preferred holding the sheet material during the performforms only have been shown by Way of illustraing of the various operations thereon and for tion. c 20 automatically releasing the said material after It is to be understood that although this dethe various operations have been completed. vice has been sho-wn and described for use in Another object of the invention is to provide producing articles from sheet materials it may improved cutting means which may be guided in be employed for conveying, cutting, measuring irregular paths during thecutting operation so or facilitating the inspection of any materials l25 that irregularities which determine the path of and may be employed specically for any one of the cut across the material may be followed or the above purposes or in various combinations compensated for. one with the other.

Another object of the invention is to provide Referring to the drawings:

improved means whereby the machine may quick- Fig. I is a perspective view of the device em- 30 1y and easily be adjusted to various productive bodying the invention; j requirements. Fig, II is an enlarged section viewtaken on Another object is to provide improved means line II-II of Fig. I; for varying the operating movements of the ma- Fig. III is an enlarged sectional view taken chine. on line III-III of Fig. I; 35

Another object is to provide improved means Fig. IV is a fragmentary side Viewl of a modified whereby the conveying, measuring and cutting form of the invention; operations may be performed automatically Fig. V is a fragmentary perspective View illuseither singly or in various combinations one with trating a modified form of holding means; N the other. Fig. vVI is an enlarged fragmentary perspec- 40 Another object is to provide automatic means tive view of a cutting device, showing portions for controlling the operation of the cutter memthereof in cross section; ber during the operation of the machine. Fig. VII is a fragmentary sectional View taken Another object is to provide automatic brake on line VII- VII of Fig. V, showing the holding n means for controlling the movement of the conmember in engagement with the sheet material; 45 veyor or measuring device during the operation Fig. VIII is a perspective view of a modied of the machine. form of crank device for varying the operating Another object is to provide automatic means movement of the machine; K for obtaining measurements of the material dur- Fig. IX is a fragmentary View of a modied ing the operation of the machine. form of conveyor roll, showing portions thereof 50 Another object is to provide improved means in cross section; for supporting the material on which the various Fig. X is a sectional view taken on line X--X operations are to be performed. of Fig. IV; v

Another object of the invention is to provide Fig. XI is a side elevation of a modified form 5 improved means for controlling the length of cut. of brake device; 55

from 30 to 40 feet in length. The purpose of..

these tables was to provide means whereby a relatively long strip of material could be placed thereonso that it could be readily inspected, measured and out to desired lengths, the cutting operation being performedlin most instances 'byj a large pair of manually operated shears.

The usual practice was to grasp an end of the material and draw it the full length of the table top. The material was thence definitely arranged relative to spaced indication marks on Said top and was thence inspected and cut, the indication marks being used as means for deter.- mining the positions of the cuts. The material was thence'removed from the table top and the various operations repeated.

It is quite apparent that this procedure required an exceedingly large floor space, necessitated excessive lighting and heating apparatus and also forced the operators to do an excessive amount of walking, cutting, etc. This not only required much time but was very costly. It was also found from past experience that these operations were so tiresome and .laborious that the operators were soon forced to abandon their work. This resulted, in most instances, in the work being performed by unskilled labor and proved to be very unsatisfactory.

Another serious defect was that a slight breeze, such as the movement of the operator walking near the table, would cause thegmaterial to be `displacedfromthe top thereof. `This not only 'necessitated its-.being picked up,but in many instancesv caused it to become spotted and spoiled.

.The present invention is, therefore, particularly directed to obviating these undesirable features by providing a relatively short table like member having an endless intermittently movable top portion thereon. The said top portion is provided with means by which the material is automatically grasped for intermittent advancement past the operator.

During the time interval between each intermittent movement, the material is inspected and cut. Continued movement of the top portion advances the material to a position wherein it is'autornatically released and dropped into a receptacle. The table member is provided with means for automatically measuring the material asl it is intermittently advanced thereover.

This arrangementrequires but little lioor space, reduces the cost of manufacture, reduces theusual lighting and heatingl requirements of the past, increases production, and` obviates the belt like member 4 which is formed of canvas, leather or any suitable material. The `said belt 4 as shown in Fig. I is provided with a plurality e of spaced tapered transverse rod members 5 which are adapted to engage in a plurality of spaced tapered slots or grooves 6 formed in the face of the rolls 2 and 3. The belt like member 4 is also provided with a plurality of denitely spaced plate members 1 which are attached directly to the belt 4 by rivets or like means 8 as shown in. Fig. III. A plurality of weight like holding members 9 are hinged at I0 to plate members II mounted on the belt like member 4 and are adapted to automatically grasp and hold vthe sheet material I2 on said belt like member.

The plate members II, as shown in Fig. II are provided with flanged edges I3 which extend upwardly adjacent one side of the weights 9 to provide means for increasing the gripping and holding action of said weights.

Motion is imparted to the machine through the roll 2 `which is connected with a train-of gears I4, I5 and I6 which are intermittently driven by a ratchet Wheel I1 mounted on.` the shaft I8. The ratchet wheelY I1 is driven by a pawl I9 which is pivoted to a rock lever 20 mounted on the shaft IB. Motion is transmitted to the rock lever 20 through a link 2I connected with la crank 36. The said crank is driven by motion transmitted through the gears 22 arl/.1.23, pulley 24, belt 25 and pulley 26 from the motor 21 or any suitable source of power. e, l

A friction speed retarding device comprising a grooved pulley 28, connected to theaxle 29 of the roll 2, belt likey member 30 and weight 3|, Y.

provides means for instantly stopping the rotary motion of the rolls 2 and 3 and belt like member 4 after they have been advanced the desired amount. f

A supportk plate 32 having depending ends 33 thereon is mounted beneath the belt like member 4 and provides means for preventing the said belt from sagging and also provides a support for a cutting device 34. The cutting device 34 isprovided, as `shown in Figs. I and VI, with a cutting disc 35 which is driven by a motor 31 or any suitable source of power. The cutting device 34 is mounted on a rod 38 which is Vslidingly mounted between a plurality of roller bearings 39 in a slide block 40. j `The slide block 49 is pivoted at 4I tol a bifur-V cated support 42 which is itself pivoted at 43 inV a bearing v44 mounted on an extension of th plate 32. The slide rod 38 is provided with a balance weight 45 adjacent its end oppositey the cuttingdevice 34. .A handle member 46 adjacent the weight 45 provides means whereby the cut-,- ting disc 35 may be manually operated and guided during the cutting operation. A second handle member 41 is provided adjacent the cutting disc 35 to provide additional means by which the said cutting disc may be guided during the cutting operation. The handle 46 being provided for use when it is desired to push the cutting disc 35 across the material to be cut and the handle 41 for use when it is desired to pull the cutting disc 35 across the material to be cut. A spring member 48 is adapted to tilt the slide block 40 on its pivot 4I and simultaneously raise the cutting device 34 from the work and cause it to slide downwardly toward the block4ll when the guiding handle 46 or 41 is released. This provides automatic means for returning the cutting disc to its initial set after 4each cutting operation has been performed. A guidel wheel 50 is rotatably mounted on the cutting device 34' andA is adapted to engage with a plate member 'I during the cutting operation. A suitable stop projection |48 is'formed on some of the plate members. "I to provide means with which the cutting device 34 will abut and stop` when it is desired to prevent cutting the material its full Width.

Attention is directed to the fact that the plate members 'I are so spaced on the belt likeI member 4 and that the motion of the machine is so adjusted that each intermittent movement of the belt like member fl causes each plate member 'I to advance a distance equal to the space between the said plate members and thereby causes leach Vplate member to assume the position previously occupied by the advanced plate member. Each plate member l is adapted to be successively aligned With the cutting device 34 during the operation of the machine.

The material I2 to be conveyed, measured, inspected or cut is in this instance in the form of a long strip Which is folded as shown in Fig. I or placed on a roll 49 as shown in Fig. IV. One end of the sheet material I2 is placed under a pair of opposed Weight like holding members 9 on the belt like member Il adjacent the plate members l and is held by said Weight members and carried therewith When the belt Il is intermittently advanced. Attention is directed to the fact that as the Weight like members 9 arek inu termittently advanced over the roll 3 as shown in Fig. I, the action of gravity causes them to fall away from the belt 4 and automatically release the sheet material I2. Any suitable type of a receptacle such as a hand Wagon 'Ill or the like may be placed adjacent .the machine to receive the sheet material .When it is yreleased by the Weight like holding members 9.

The said Weight like holding members 9 are also adapted to automatically drop into engagement with sheet material IZ whenthey are moved upm Wardly over the roll 2. This provides automatic means for gripping and holding the sheet material to carry it with the belt like member i as the said belt is intermittently advanced and also provides means which will operatel automatically to release the sheet material after it has been intermittently advanced over the machine. There is at least one pair of Weight like holding members 9 in engagement with the material .I2 when the gripping and releasing action of the other of said holding members takes place.

The intermittent advancing of the sheet like material I2 a given amount With the belt like member 4 at each movement thereof facilitates the inspection of the material and provides means by Which the material may be measured. The measuring is accomplished by successive movements of a predetermined amount each revolution ofthe crank member 36.

The cutting operation is performed 4during the period at which the belt like member il is at rest and is accomplished by guiding theY rotating cutting disc 35 in the desired path across the material I2. The guide Wheel 50 on the cutting device 34 engages with the plate 'I during the cutting operation and prevents the possible forcing of the cutting disc 35 into engagement with the said plate andr thereby causing it to become dulled or broken and lrendered impractical for use. l

Attention is directed to the fact that the plate members 1 are provided with raised longitudinal edges as shown in Figs. I, IV, VI and XII, to provide means by which the cutting disc 35 Will engage'and cut the sheet material. This is due to The amount of each intermittent movement of the belt like member I is controlled by adjusting the link member 2l longitudinally of the slot 5I in the rock lever 2@ as shown in Fig. I or by chang-` ing the gear member I4 as shown in Fig. IV, wherein a modified 'form of the invention is illustrated.

In Fig. IV the intermediate gear I is mounted in a slide bearing 52 which is slidably mounted in a slotted lever 53. The lever 53 is pivoted at 5d adjacent one end thereof to the frame I and is connected by a bolt like member 55 to a slotted support plate 55 carried by the main frame I. The bearing 52 is adaptedto be moved longitudi nally or" the slotted lever 53 to permit the use of different sized gears I4. The said bearing 52 as shown in Fig. X is provided with clamp bolts 5l which are slidably mounted in aligned slots ,58 formed in the lever 53 and are adapted to be tightened to secure the bearing 52 in desired adn justed position on the lever. 'Ihe lever 53 is then moved on its pivot 54 to place the bearing 52 and gear I5 in desired position intermediate the gears I4 and I6. The bolt 55 is then tightened to rigidly secure the bearing 52 and gear I5 in their adjusted position.

The roll 4S of sheet material I2 as shown'in FigIV is mounted on a pair of rolls |26 and |21 positioned adjacent the main drive roll 2. One of the rolls IE5 or I2] is rotated by a cone pulley |28 or some suitable speed varying means which is driven by a belt |29 and cone pulley |39 or'similar means by Which the rotating movement 01' the roll 25 or I2? may be varied. The cone pulley or like means Iili is mounted on the main drive shaft I3I of the machine and is continually rotated during the operation of the machine. lIhe roll I9 oi Sheet material I2 placed upon theurolls I26 and I2'I is adapted to be rotated by said rolls to lstrain which might mar and spoil the "material during `the operation of the main machine.

An auxiliary guide roll or like means 50 positioned adjacent the main roll member 2 provides means for guiding the sheet material I2 over the roll 2 during the operation of the machine'.

A. modified form of clamp member is shown in Figs. IV, V and VII wherein spring clip members 6I are employed. The lsaid clip members are hingedly attached to the belt like member 4 in a similar manner to that of the weight likemembers il. In this instance a cam plate-62 is stationarily secured at each end. of the machine adjacent theroll members 2 and 3 and in the path of projecting vportions S3 formed on the clip members 3 I.r rIhe plate member 62 adjacentf'the roll 2, as diagrammatically illustrated in Fig. V, is adapted to cause the clip members 5I to swing upwardly on their pivots away from the belt like member ill as the said belt like member is intermittently rotated. When the projecting portions gagement with the cam plate 62 a spring member .553 of the clip members 6I are moved out of enn y' towards the belt like member 4 to grip and hold the sheet material I2 on said belt.

A second cam plate, not shown in the drawings, is positioned adjacent the roll member 3 and is adapted to operate in a similar manner to that of the cam plate 62 adjacent the roll 2. When the belt like member 4 is intermittently advancedv the said cam plate adjacent the roll 3 is adapted to raise the clip members and cause themto release the sheet material I2 whereupon the said material will fall into the receptacle 14.

In Fig. VIII there is shown a modified form of crank member 38 which comprises a disc 65 having a graduated transverse slot 66 therein in which is slidably mounted a pivot block 61. The block 61 is provided with an indication mark 15 .by means of which theposition of block in the disc may be determined. The link member 2| in this instance is pivoted at 68 to the pivot block 61 and the said block is moved longitudinally of the slot 66 by a threaded member 69 on which it is threadedly mounted. This provides additional means for varying the intermittent movement of the belt like member 4.

A further modification of the invention is shown in Fig.v IX wherein the belt like member 4 is provided with tapered projecting strips 10 which extend longitudinally thereof adjacent each side The longitudinal strips are adapted to t Within circumferential grooves 1I formed in the face of the rolls 2 and 3. These strips provide means for preventing side movement of the belt like member 4 during the operation of the machine.

A plate member 12 as shown in Fig. I may be attached to the sides of the rolls 2 and 3 to prevent side movement of the belt like member when the tapered rod members 5 are employed. The said plate members 12 are adapted to engage with the ends of the rod members 5 to keep them in proper` relation with the rolls 2 and 3 and prevent side movement thereof.

A plurality of auxiliary bearing members 13, as shown in Fig.` I, are mounted on the frame I to permit the use of different sized belt like members 4. It being` simply necessary to place a belt like member of the desired length over the rolls 2 and 3 and employ the bearing 13 necessary for said length of belt like member. In this manner several different lengths of belt like members 4 can be quickly and easily employed. The amount of movement of the belt like member 4 can be quickly adjusted to`meet the requirements of the different lengths by changing the gear I4 or by varying the movement of the pawl I9 or crank 36 as shown in Fig. VIII.

In Fig. XI there is shown a modified form of brake member, formed by placing a grooved faced disc`16 on the shaft I8 adjacent the ratchet wheel I1. A hook` shaped brake band 11 is mounted in the grooved face of the disc 16 and is formed with a projecting portion 18 which is slidably mounted in a bearing 19 pivoted at 80 to the link member 2 I.

A spring member 8| `is placed on the projecting portion 18 on the end opposite the brake band 11 and the tension thereof is varied by tightening and loosening a nut member 82 which is mounted on the threaded end 83 adjacent the spring. An adjustable collar 84 is mounted on the projecting portion 18 adjacent the ybearing 19 to provide means by which the pressure of the brake band` 11 may be released as the crank member 36 rotates to advance the ratchet wheel I1. As the crank member moves to its extreme advanced position the bearing member 19 slides on the projecting portion18 and causes the spring 8| to compress and force the brake band 11 into frictional engagement with the disc 19. This provides automatic brake means for preventing theV accidental advancing of the belt like member 4 more than the desired amount.

A switch member 85 as shown in Fig. I provides means whereby the machine may be started and stopped when desired. y

In Figures XII, XIII and XIV there is shown a modified form of cutting device by means of which the sheet material I2 may be automatically out as it is intermittently advanced over the machine. In this instance the cutting device 34 is mounted on a slide block 86 which is slidably mounted on a slide rod 81 carried by a frame 88 slidably mounted at each end in a: pair of vertical bearing members 89 carried by the main frame I. The cutting device 34 is automatically moved longitudinally of the slide bar 81 by a chain member 90 and cord 9| attached at 92 to the top of the slide block 86. The chain 90 extends over an idler sprocket Wheel 93 on the frame 88 and a second sprocket Wheel 94 on said frame and is attached at 95 to the cord 9|. The cord 9| extends over the idler pulleys 96 and 91 mounted on the opposite side of the frame 88. The chain and cord are moved by a train of gears 98, 99, and IOI. The gear 99 is attached to the shaft |02 and the gears |00 and |0| are loosely mounted on said shaft. The gear |00 is rotatably mounted in a bearing I 03 carried by the bearing 89 and is held against longitudinal movement on the shaft |02 by said bearing. The gear |0I is rotatably mounted on a reduced slotted extension |04 of a support bearing and is held against longitudinal movement on the shaft |02 by a pin |08 which extends in the slot in said reduced extension. The gears |00 and |0| lare provided internally with clutch Vfaces |01 which are adapted to engage with a clutch member |08 mounted on the shaft |02 centrally of said gears. The gears |00` and |0I are in constant engagement with a main drive gear |09 mounted on a horizontal shaft ||0 and are adapted to be constantly driven by said gear. The shaft |I0 is driven by the pulley III, belt I'I2 and pulley ||3 mounted on the crank shaft or it may be driven from any suitable source of power.

A pair of cam discs ||4 are mounted on the shaft I0 and are adapted to raise and lorwer the lframe 88 and cutting device 34 during the operation of the machine. The said cams ||4 are providedy with a cutter advancing dwell surface ||5, an intermediate neutral dwell surface |'I6 and a cutter disengaging and returning dwell surface I I1. The dwell surface I I5 permits the frame 88 the frame 88 is in this low position, the sliding cutter member 35 which is driven by they motor 31 will engage with and cut the material I2. 'I'he cams ||4 are so designed and timed that when the cut is completed they return dwell surface ||1 will be moved into play and cause the frame 88 to raise and simultaneously disengage the clutch '36v of the main drive mechanism of the machine Y moved to an intermediate disengagedneutral position between the gears |00 and lill.l During ther time interval at which the returning and neutral dwelling movement of the cams ||4 is Vtaking place the machine operates to advance the' ma# terial |2 for the next cut. This action is 'con, stantly repeatedduring the operation of the ma# chine and thereby/ provides automatic means for conveying, measuring and cutting the sheet material to desired lengths.l y

It is apparent that during the operation of the machine the operator can inspect the sheet material as it is intermittently moved over the belt like,` member and make any adjustments which might be necessary. 1 y V f The slide rod 81 is `formed with grooved side walls |3 inwhich are mounted a pair of electrical conducting rod members I9. The rod mem` bers ||9 are insulated from the slide rod 81 by grooved support plates |20 o any suitable insulation material. `The rods are adapted to conduct electrical energy to the motor -31 through the spring contacts |2| Vwhich slidably engage with the electrical conducting rods H9 when the cutting device'34 is moved longitudinally of the slide rod 81. The electrical conducting rod members ||9 are connected by the lead wire IEE to a' knife switch |23, one portion of which is mounted on the frame 88 and the other portion on the adv jacent support bearing 89. The knife switch is` connected by the lead wires |24 to any suitable source of power.

It is apparent that when vthe frame `83 is in. its lowest position the knife switchr |23 will be closed and that electrical energy will be transmitted to the motor 31 to rotate the cutting disc 35 and that when the frame 88 and cutting device 34 are in their raised and inoperative positions the knife switch will be opened or disengaged and no electrical energy will be transmitted to the motor.

The amount of movement of the cutting device 34 longitudinally of the slide bar 81 can be controlled by the length of cutting dwell on the cam members 4 and in this manner the length of the cut may be varied as desired, it being simply necessary to form a relatively short cutting dwell on the cam or a long cutting dwell. It is apparent that when different lengths of cuts are necessary during a continued operation of the machine the cams 4 can be provided with a, plurality of cutting dwells of the desired lengths.

An automatic recording device |25 is geared with the roll 2 and is rotated thereby during the intermittent operation of the machine. The purpose of this recording device is to provide means by which the total amount of material I2 which passes over the machine can be determined.

The general operation of the machine is as follows:

'I'he end of the sheet material |2 is rst placed under an opposed pair of holding members 9 or 6| adjacent the roll 2 and the machine is started. As the belt like member 4 is intermittently advanced the sheet material |2 is carried therewith over the machine.` During thetime interval at which the machine is idle, that is, between each intermittent movement, the cutting -device 34 isl operated to cut the material. Each intermittent movement of the belt like member 4 advances the sheet material l2 a given amount over". the machine and thereby pro-vides meansrfor measuring the material. vThe amount of movement is controlled by the mechanical adjustments of the machine andthe length oi the belt like member. 4

matically operating recording device |25`interf,

geared with the roll 2, it being simplynecessary to take the readings at the start and close of the day and calculate the total amount from these readings.

The intermittent movement lof the machine permits thorough inspection and provides ample time for minor adjustments that might be necessary.

The machine is simple in its construction and operation, requires but little floor space and ,may

be used for any one of. the above purposes or in any combination one with the other.

From the foregoing description'it willvbe seen;` that I have provided simple, eiiicient and econom-l 1cal means and processes of obtaining all of ,the

objects and advantages of the invention.

Having described my invention Il claim: Y j l.. In a device for advancing a sheet to an oper ating point for the performanceof'a manually controlled operation thereon, a table member having a movable top portion thereon, a pluralityof position 'locating members on said top portion ior registration with the 'operating point and ly-4 ing in a plane substantially parallel with said topportion, means associated with the table,

member for intermittently moving said top portion and position locating members an amount substantially equal to the distance between said position locating members and to move said position locating members successively to said operating point adjacent the table and intermediate its ends to permit the performance of the manually controlled operation, said position locating members forming means over which the sheet placed on the table top is adapted to extend to locate the operating point on said sheet and means associated with the top portion for causing the. sheet to movev with said top portion to assume its desired relation with the position 1ocating members without altering the relation of said means and position locating members during said intermittent movement.

2. In a device for advancing a sheet to an operating point, a table member having a movable top portion thereon, a plurality of material elevating members on said top portion and having intermediate relatively flat portions for registration with the operating point and lying in a plane substantially parallel with said top portion, means associated with the table member for intermittently moving said top portion and material elevating members an amount substantially equal to the distance between said elevating members and to move said elevating members successively toV said operating point adjacent the table and intermediate its ends, `said elevatingmembers forming means over which the sheet placed on the table top is adapted to be bridged and elevated to locate the `operating point on said sheet and means associated with the top portion for causing the Vsheet to move therewithto assume its bridged and elevated relation with the elevating members Without altering the relation of said means and elevating members during said intermittent movement. ,i

3. In a device for advancing a sheet to an operatin-gjpoint, a`table member having a movable top portion thereon, a plurality of spaced plate like members having raised longitudinal edges and an intermediate relatively fiat portion lying in ,a plane substantially parallel with said top portion, means associatedwith the table member for intermittently moving said top portion and 1 platelike members an amount substantially "equal to tli'e'distance between said plate like members and to nuove said plate like members successively to said operating point adjacent vthe table and intermediate its ends, said raisedlongitudinal edges Vo-fthe plate membersA forming means over which thesheet placed on the table top is adapted to be bridged and. elevated to locate the operating point on said sheet and means associated withthe top portion for causing the sheet to I'nliver therewith to assume its desired relation with the plate members without altering the relation of said means and plate members during said intermittent movement. l

4. In a device for advancing a sheet to an operating point, a table member having a movable and for altering the related positions oi? the .plu. rality of spaced position locating members in corresponding amounts, said position locating members forming means over which the sheet placed on the table top is adapted to extend to locate the operating? point on said sheet.

5. In a device for advancing a sheet'to' an operating point, a main support, a movable carrying member on said main support havingV holding means for gripping and moving the sheet with said carrying member and having a plurality of position locating members thereon for registration with the operating point and lying in a'plane substantially parallel with its longitudinal surface and means incorporating gears and a ratchet associated with said 'carrying member for intermittently moving it together'with the holding means and the plurality of position locating members successively longitudinally of the main support to move said position locating members substantially to said operating point adjacent the carrying member and intermediate its ends, said position locating members forming means over which the sheet moved with the carrying member is adapted to extend to locate Athe operating point on said sheet.

6. In a device for advancing a sheet to an operating point, a table member having a movable top portion thereon, a plurality of position locating members for registration with the operating point and lying in a plane substantially parallel with said top portion, means associated with the table member for intermittently moving said top portion and position locating members an amount substantially equal to therdistance between said position locating members and to move said position locating members successively to an operating point adjacent the table and intermediate its ends and means for changing the extent of movement of the intermittently moving means by an amount suflicient to advance a set of said position locating members successively to said operating point, said position locating members forming means over which the sheet placed on the table topis adapted to extend to locate the operating point on said sheet. f

PAUL N. DUBUC 

